v2 G.O.A.T Round 1 Group 1

First topic message reminder :

Today see's the first group of the competition with participants from Darts, Rugby, Snooker and American Football.

Three out of today’s four competitors have been championed by forum members (please see the below articles)

Please vote for the competitor you believe has achieved the most in sport and should be progress into the next round.

The winner and runner up will make it into round 2

Please leave a comment as to why you voted

Phil Taylor- Darts- Championed by CJB
Phil Taylor is the character that has transcended Darts. After taking up darts at 26, Taylor would win his first professional title in two years and by 1992 was a two-time BDO world champion. However, darts would be changed irrevocably in 1993 when a rival organisation – the PDC - led by 16 leading players was created.

Taylor would lose the first PDC World Championship final against Dennis Priestly in 1994 but losing in this championship would be a rarity for Phil. He would win 44 consecutive games, with eight titles including a 107.46 average in the 2001 final against John Part. 2002 was one of the high points of Phil’s career winning the four majors and the first televised nine darter in the PDC.

Phil would overcome a minor blip in the 2003 final to go and win three consecutive world championships. This would lead to the 2007 world championship final between Raymond Van Barneveld, four-time BDO champion, and Phil. This would go on to be labelled as the greatest match ever. Taylor would win the first eight legs and take a 3-0 lead in sets. He would bring it back to 5-3 before winning 3 consecutive sets. Taylor would win the next set to take it into a deciding set. The deciding set would go into a nerve-wracking deciding leg with Taylor losing in the greatest game ever.

The Power, as he is affectionately nicknamed, would win both the 2009 and 2010 world championships, with normal service resumed. 2009 was another vintage Phil year, winning 10 of the 12 major tournaments. Approaching 50, Taylor would lose in the 2011 + 2012 world championships despite his 11 majors spread out with these two years. With reports of his waning powers, Taylor would go on to claim his 16th world title beating the new kid on the block, Michael Van Gerwen in a stunning final on New Years Day.

The world title would be the 194th title of his illustrious career with 74 major wins. Not only is he the most successful player in terms of career titles but is also credited with the most televised 9-dart finishes, the perfect leg. He has achieved this nine times including twice in one game, a feat still unmatched, with only 34 ever hit. His dominance of the game is also shown by his amazing 3-dart averages. In 2010, Taylor would record the highest televised average ever with 118.66 and has thrown a televised average over 105 an incredible 117 times compared to just 78 from all other players.

So whilst the merits of Taylor as a ‘sportsman’ alongside the likes of Woods, Bradman and Federer may be debatable in your eyes, Taylor is a deserved recipient of this award, with his wins and consistent domination not equalled in any other sporting arena.

Ronnie O'Sullivan- Snooker- Championed by The Special Juan
Few sporting competitors can be described as the most “naturally talented” player ever to play their sport but that is exactly what Ronnie O’Sullivan is. Although he has had his fair share of controversies in the past (failed drug tests, leaving matches early), he has amazed crowds and bamboozled opponents with dazzling play, making him statistically the third most successful snooker player of all time (behind the behemoths of the sport Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis) and a real fan favourite.

The talent O’Sullivan possesses was evident from a young age. At just ten years old he made a break of 117, aged twelve he made a break of 142 and aged fifteen he made the magical maximum of 147.

After turning professional in 1992, he won his first 38 competitive matches (a record) and in only his second season on tour, he won snooker’s second most prestigious prize, the UK Championship, beating both Davis (9-6) and Hendry (10-6 in the final) on the way to the title. This made him the youngest ever winner of the tournament aged just seventeen.

Arguably one of the most memorable moments in snooker history came in the 1997 World Championship. O’Sullivan made the first of his current total of 11 maximum breaks in the first round however it took him only 5 minutes and 20 seconds to complete the break; a record which may never be broken.

O’Sullivan’s immense talent in the game has racked him up 24 ranking event titles (plus 11 other finals), including 4 World Championships, 4 UK Championships and 4 Masters titles. He is also one of only seven players to have won the World Championship, UK Championship and the Masters at least once.

Break building is the strongest part of O’Sullivan’s game and is what he has used to enthral crowds during his career. As mentioned, he has made a total of 11 maximum breaks and a total of 678 century breaks in his 20 years as a professional. One of his best and most memorable breaks occurred at the 2012 World Championship where he produced one of the greatest ever clearances to win the seventh frame against Ali Carter in the final (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY15samN7t8). The balls were scattered about the table and the frame was heading for an extended safety battle until O’Sullivan came to the table and made and produced some vintage magic to win the frame.

The flair, talent, controversy, break building, safety play and overall speed around the table when in full flow makes O’Sullivan the current crowd favourite of the game, just like Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins and Jimmy ‘Whirlwind’ White were before him and Judd Trump will be after him. Whatever current event is on-going, you can be sure that Ronnie O’Sullivan will be the largest picture on the posters advertising the tournament. One of his most famous controversies occurred at the 1996 World Championship against Alain Robidoux. Although normally right-handed, O’Sullivan can play almost as well with his left-handed (making him the greatest ambidextrous player of all time). When he demonstrated this against Robidoux, his opponent accused him of disrespect. O’Sullivan replied by saying “he played better with his left hand than Robidoux could with his right”. O’Sullivan was summoned to a hearing where he had to prove he could play to a high standard with his left hand. He was pitted against Rex Williams (a former World Championship runner-up) for three frames and won them all.

A true measure of greatness is how an individual compares to his fellow sportsmen. John Higgins, another four time World Champion who turned professional around the same time, is arguably the only player who can compete with O’Sullivan on top form. This has led to many competitive matches between the two including the 2006 Masters Final which is widely acknowledged to be one of the best snooker matches of all time. The two have competed against each other 56 times, with Ronnie holding a winning 28-25 record against Higgins (there were 3 draws). O’Sullivan and two time World Champion Mark Williams have met 38 times with O’Sullivan again holding a winning record, this time 26-9 with three draws. An interesting fact is that Williams has not defeated O’Sullivan since 2002. O’Sullivan also has favourable records against Hendry (30-21) and Steve Davis (22-6).

Although the hair styles may have changed over the years and the controversies come and gone, O’Sullivan’s game has continued to amaze crowds worldwide for nearly 21 years now. Despite being on a self-imposed sabbatical from the game, it’s very unlikely that we have seen the last of Ronnie, especially as he has a world title to defend in a few months…"

Jerry Rice- American Football- Championed by Spaghetti-Hans
In a recent NFL search to find the greatest player their game has ever had, two separate polls – one from the fans, one from the authorities – reached the same conclusion. There has never been, and nor will there ever be, anyone better than Jerry Rice. We could list for you the records, his all-time highs in receiving yards, receptions, and career touchdowns (records not just held, but repossessed, unlikely to ever again be taken), but what matters more is the moments. And what moments there were...

How about his first Superbowl win in 1989, the San Francisco 49ers last gasp win versus the Bengals? The Rice Bowl as it will now forever be known was Rice’s first accent to immortality – an individual Superbowl record 11 passes for 215 yards, MVP, with a performance so good that George Bush Sr., sworn into office only 2 days before, made use of the White House phones for the first time to personally congratulate him on his display. Then again exactly one year later, Rice put to bed that saying so popular amongst old wives and superstitious sailors, that ‘Superbowl champions don’t repeat’. The 49ers were dominant; The Broncos were humiliated – 55-10 remains the most one-sided Superbowl victory in history. And with 3 more touchdowns, our man was the chef serving bronco rare. That San Francisco team has a strong claim to be called the finest in the sport’s history, and all great teams have a ringleader. Like Jordan for the Bulls, read Rice for the 49ers.

Like a man who picks up the phone before it rings, his relationship with his buddy, the great Joe Montana, was telepathic – Rice would run, and lo Rice would receive. Time and time again Rice would pick that pigskin from the air by the fingertips. Yet Rice was so much more than an outlet for a talented Quarterback – his positional awareness, precision timing, riot-shield blocking, and long, mazy, electrifying running with the ball made him unique. For a Wide Receiver he wasn’t particularly quick, but like a Messi or Maradona, the man could shimmy and shake his way through a brick wall.

The mid-90s were an undisputed golden age of NFL, and a Monday night in 1994 saw possibly its highlight. San Francisco versus L.A Raiders: The Battle of The Bay. Jerry Rice makes three touchdowns – and in the process overtakes first Ol’ Walter Payton, then the legendary American Everyman, Jim Brown, before finally setting a new all-time touchdown record. In the heated cauldron of one of the game’s great rivalries, all four sides of the stadium rose to acclaim their new champion. Even Raiders fans chanted the name of the Fog City Saint: Jerry. Jerry. Jerry.

You know you have attained greatness when grown men whisper stories about you round campfires, and at last orders in smoky bars. And there are more than a few tales about Jerry Rice. It was said that he learnt by catching bricks, that he gained his high-knees by leaping through the paddy fields under the Saigon moon, there are some 49er’s fans who swear they never saw him drop a catch. He did miss a catch (once, or maybe twice), but perhaps what they really meant was that he never missed a match. His record was outstanding, his legend durable, in 20 years he only missed ten matches. He floated like a feather, but was made from oak. In his final Superbowl victory, the Three-Peat of 1995 against The Chargers – he proved the difference maker once again with three more touchdowns – and he did it all while playing with a separated-frickin-shoulder. It's said that he wouldn't get into the ambulance until that ring was on his finger.

The man was simply a colossus, a giant who towers over every aspect of his sport. Will he win this prestigious tournament? We suspect not. NFL after all is not a sport that translates - its fragmented, stop-start gameplay, and off-field excess, its half-time shows and inch-wide winner's rings run counter to the simple spontaneous joy of other sports. It would take a brave voter indeed to champion an American Footballer over the tennis player, footballer, or heavy-weight boxer. But if a GOAT transcends his sport then this is surely what Jerry Rice did – he made a complicated sport easy: Run; Catch; Run; Win. A burst of lightning from The Bay.

I use to play cricket twice a week and consider it a decent exercise. Not the same as 90 mins of Football or a 5 mile jog but still a good work out. As for the drinking. Well, that irrelevant.

super_realist wrote:but his physical condition for a human being is a disgrace. He's on tv for heavens sake,has he no shame. I wouldn't leave the house if I was in that condition.

Physician, heal thyself!

I bet you're a chunky monkey really, aren't you? Come on cuddly, share it with the forum. You'll feel better for it....

Oakey, what I mean is that if you rely on Cricket and Golf as your sole exercise for your life, its never going to make you particularly fit.

You should be doing something similar to what you get from Golf/Cricket every day of your life. I walk 6 miles a day to and from work. It has benefits of course, but if fat people are using a couple of games of week as a way to lose weight, it's going to be a struggle to make much difference. Especially given how much people eat and drink.

Your mate must have been a fat knacker to begin with to lose 2 stone playing golf, either that or a rubbish golfer taking 300 shots a round.

Well diggers the first thing we need to do to find the goat. Is to at least have the Goats from each sport going through to the next round..

P taylor is a cert for me..should he be the ultimate goat. No..

Ronnie as skillfull as he is doesnt even belong on the snooker goat list...Although i consider him better than Hendry or davies at his peak level i would put both above him in the GOAT for snooker...
Rice and hastings are tough calls as both are considerd some of the best in a particular position. I wouldnt put Hastings(dont know enough about Rice) in the GOAT for rugby... I would have to go with campese, edwards or lumo first..

SR being active is the start for unfit peops.. Going out and getting fresh air and stuff(playing golf) will make you less hungry to eat rubbish and stuff- It should have a knock on affect on your whole life- rather than just the actual excersice gained from the activity. Clearly snooker/pool and darts could have the reverse affect!!!

I agree, I just don't think the exercise/physical output obtained from a game of golf or a game of cricket is sufficient to make my criteria for making them sports.

I cant call a sport a sport based on its physical activity level.. I dont see the point, it doesnt gain anything tbh..

The problem is in eductaion isnt it. We should all know the basics of what makes us healthy and what doesnt.. But thats another debate..

super

Does a goalkeeper have to be that fit? Neville Southall was a great keeper but hardly in shape.

So, this being the case, he wasn't a sportsman.

Fair enough Oakey, no problem with that, we just differentiate sports and past-times on different criteria. Both perfectly valid.

Stella, How much better/agile/quick would Southall been if he'd been more of an athlete instead of a pie eating knacker? Perhaps we'd be talking about him as a GOAT too?

A sport, to me, is a (non-board) game that people play competitively. Darts, football, ice hockey, table tennis, rugby, are all sports in my eyes. So Phil Taylor got a lot of consideration from me before casting my vote for Jerry Rice.

super_realist wrote:Fair enough Oakey, no problem with that, we just differentiate sports and past-times on different criteria. Both perfectly valid.

Stella, How much better/agile/quick would Southall been if he'd been more of an athlete instead of a pie eating knacker? Perhaps we'd be talking about him as a GOAT too?

My point is, you only rate sports as something you have to be fit to play. I'm saying you don't have to be, to play in goal. Yes, he may have been better if fitter but so may have Monty when playing Golf. Look at Tiger. He's as fit as a fiddle and is a .G.O.A.T. No coincidence.

Oh my lord Stella...never metion the T word to Super, if you thought he was on one before wait until now.

Diggers wrote:Oh my lord Stella...never metion the T word to Super, if you thought he was on one before wait until now.

He's not a fan?

I like Tiger and will be voting for him, unless he's up against Bradman.

Stella wrote:

Diggers wrote:Oh my lord Stella...never metion the T word to Super, if you thought he was on one before wait until now.

He's not a fan?

I like Tiger and will be voting for him, unless he's up against Bradman.

Hmm, I think its safe to say he isn't Tigers greatest fan.

But the irony is that Tiger may have prolonged his carrer at the top if he didnt keep his fitness/practise routines up!! or push his body so far with his swing!!

Please OP.. do not put tiger up with bradman!!!

I wouldnt know who to pick in the preliminary rounds!!

I'd pick Tiger. If only to see Super's reaction, which I have to admit I'm really looking forward to

Azzy Mahmood wrote:I'd pick Tiger. If only to see Super's reaction, which I have to admit I'm really looking forward to

It could be like when "Killing in the Name" was xmas number one. Everyone votes for Woods to hack off V2's very own Simon Cowell figure...Super Realist. Bring it on, mind you might tip him over the edge, we'd have to look out for headlines about a miserable looking bloke in Aberdeen (mind you must be a few of those) running into the sea screaming something about someone with nine chins.

The GOAT debate is to important to vote to Wum a poster...

I am sure that deep down SR understands how great tiger was...

He just doesnt like him! Which is kinda understandable.. He gets alot more 'in the sack' time

The Pope gets more sack time than Super does Mysti.

Back to topic, are we closing Group 1 to votes now that Group 2 is open?